Not so long ago, the prospect of Shane Watson turning out for the Broncos this Sunday was every bit as likely as him securing Australia's No. 6 slot for the most anticipated Ashes series in recent years. Perhaps more so.
But, as it turned out, the sporting all-rounder chose to ply his trade as a cricketing all-rounder. And less than two months out from the Ashes, Watson's move seems to have paid off, with national selector Allan Border confirming that the one-time Ipswich rugby league prospect was the frontrunner to claim the contentious No. 6 slot over contenders including Michael Clarke and Andrew Symonds.
"(Watson) is the guy we're looking at very closely," Border said. "Obviously, he's got the early running, but that's not to say that someone might come out of the woodwork in those early Pura Cup games. If he can get in there with both bat and ball … that'd be fantastic and it makes the balance of the side much better."
But another former Australian captain, Ian Chappell, remains unconvinced about Watson, believing Clarke is a better proposition to bat in the top six. "I'm not 100 per cent convinced about Shane Watson as a Test-match all-rounder yet. I need to see a bit more, particularly his bowling," Chappell said.
"(Former Tasmanian skipper) Jamie Cox reckons Watson could bat at three or four for Australia … He seemed to think a lot of the guys playing first-class cricket think Watson is better equipped than Clarke. I'm still not in that camp by a long way."
It is believed the selectors feel 25-year-old Watson can provide batting insurance for Adam Gilchrist and bowling cover for Glenn McGrath, returning from injury.
Should he edge out Clarke and Symonds for the No. 6 position, Watson's inclusion will form a vastly different middle order to the one that contested last year's Ashes. Michael Hussey, a controversial omission from the 2005 Ashes touring party, is now an automatic selection at No. 5. "He has been a revelation," Border said. "His performances over the last couple of years have been outstanding in both forms of the game."
- England has asked permission to field all 16 members of its squad in its first three-day warm-up match for the Ashes series, against NSW from November 12-14. The increased playing numbers means the match will lose its first-class status. England's other three-day game is against South Australia at Adelaide Oval from November 17-19.
- The International Cricket Council has told Pakistan it can replace captain Inzamam-ul-Haq in next month's Champions Trophy if he is banned at the ICC disciplinary hearing in London this week. Pakistan has indicated it will appeal if Inzamam is banned for any matches so that either he plays or it can get a replacement for the Champions Trophy tournament from October 7.
- agencies, with Alex Brown
